What ChosenCon Revealed about my Faith

[00:00:10] Speaker A: It's one thing to watch Jesus on tv, it's another thing to embarrass yourself in front of him in real life. And that's just one of the things that happened to me. At Chosen God. I'm Kristen Mochler Young and this is Becoming Church, the podcast where we discuss how the message and movement of Jesus is not just about becoming Christians, it's about, but about becoming the church. Nain Basel is back today as a guest host, so I can share all of the behind the scenes stories from my time in the spotlight as an official part of the media team at chosencon. Before I do, though, I want you to share this podcast with someone you know who loves the Chosen or someone that you wish would watch the Chosen with you. And you're trying to convince them because next Sunday you're going to get my actual interviews with Matthew, Andrew, Tamar, Little James, Dallas Jenkins, and Jesus. You can listen wherever you're listening to this episode, or you might want to catch that one on the Mosaic Church CLT YouTube page where the full videos will all be available. [00:01:14] Speaker B: Man, I am so glad to be back on this podcast. I got booted out. I don't even know how many, how many years ago was it? [00:01:22] Speaker A: A couple. A couple years ago. Podcast is only a couple years old, but you did only also make a couple episodes, so. [00:01:27] Speaker B: I did, I did, did. And since then you've got. Wow, you've had some amazing people on, haven't you? [00:01:35] Speaker A: Yes, I have. Pastors, authors, leaders, actors, influencers, all kinds. [00:01:41] Speaker B: And you know what's great about it too is because I really do appreciate that you try to get diverse voices because some of these guys, if they were actually in the room together, they would not even want to sit together. Right, right. I mean, right? Yeah, yeah. [00:01:56] Speaker A: I explain to people all the time the goal of the podcast is not to, like, get everybody to agree and like, alignment of something, but it's to get people thinking from another perspective about why they believe what they believe or why they think what they think. And so the only way to do that is by hearing other perspectives. [00:02:10] Speaker B: Right, right. So true. So true. So I'm proud of you. I'm so glad you're doing this. But today, instead of you interviewing guests. [00:02:21] Speaker A: Yes. [00:02:23] Speaker B: This guest is going to interview you. [00:02:26] Speaker A: Yes. [00:02:27] Speaker B: Are you ready for this? [00:02:29] Speaker A: I don't know. I think so. [00:02:30] Speaker B: I don't know. You got me some questions. I might just throw in some more. I don't know. You never know with me. You never know. [00:02:36] Speaker A: I do. I never know with You. [00:02:37] Speaker B: Okay. So the context, though, is that you got to interview the cast of the Chosen at a thing called Chosen Con. [00:02:47] Speaker A: I did. [00:02:48] Speaker B: How in the world did that happen? And what in the world is Chosen Con? [00:02:56] Speaker A: Okay. Yes, good question. So Chosen Con is a conference for fans of the Chosen, basically. So it's a couple days, you buy a ticket, and then there are different levels of tickets, and so you can come in and you hear. It's like you're in this massive room, and there's worship, and then there's, like, other speakers. Like, Bear Gryllis was there to talk about a new show that he's doing with the cast, and other people from other organizations would come in, but also many of the cast members of the Chosen were also there, and they would be in, like, panels, and you would hear from them, and then there were meet and greets if you had, like, that level of ticket. So I looked up the tickets because I love the Chosen, and I was like, wow, okay. I love the Chosen, like, but I don't know if my bank account loves the Chosen that much, so I had to figure out another way that I could finagle my way in. Right. So I have only mentioned it, like, once, a hundred times on this show. But I did interview Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene, AKA your best friend, my bestie. I now call her Liz. We text. [00:04:07] Speaker B: Oh, wow. Okay. Liz. Okay. Okay. [00:04:10] Speaker A: So I then also remembered that I knew someone who worked for the Chosen, like, globally. And so I emailed that person, and I name dropped Liz Tavish. And I made myself sound very professional, like I did before. Very professional. And instead of asking, like, hey, is it possible? I was like, what do you need from me? And, like, when will I show up? And the email started coming in, and I mean, you. You know, you were here when I got the one, and I was still so afraid to tell people until it was, like, happening. Actual details. [00:04:44] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:04:44] Speaker A: Because I was like, there's no way. There's no way that it was that easy and that it worked. [00:04:48] Speaker B: But, wow, it did. I know. I do remember you were like. It was a surreal moment for you. Like, I think this is happening. I think this is happening. Yeah. And even though you're not superstitious, but you're like, I don't want to jinx it. I don't want to. Like, I know. I get that. [00:05:02] Speaker A: Because that would have been so embarrassing for me to, like, put on social media and be like, you guys, guess what? And then, yes. [00:05:07] Speaker B: And then not. Oh, yeah. Well, this is Crazy. This is amazing. So let me ask you, what is this? Yeah. What's this love about the show? Like, why do you love it so much? Like, I mean. I mean, I like, you know, you always bug me about watching this show and I have watched the first season. I have. [00:05:24] Speaker A: The whole season. No, you have not. No, I don't think so. [00:05:29] Speaker B: I've watched parts of it. I've watched a lot of parts of it. [00:05:33] Speaker A: You've watched Clicks. [00:05:35] Speaker B: Anyways, why do you love it so much? [00:05:37] Speaker A: So here's why I love it so much because at first I was not on the chosen bandwagon. Like, as a pastor. I mean, you understand this, right? The last thing I want to do at the end of the day when I go home to relax is watch a TV show about Jesus. Like, no, thanks. It just feels like work. [00:05:51] Speaker B: Wow. [00:05:51] Speaker A: You know what I mean? [00:05:52] Speaker B: Some time away from Jesus. Is that what you're trying to say? [00:05:54] Speaker A: Yes, sometimes I do. Sometimes I just need to laugh. And like, that didn't sound like, you know, what it would be. [00:06:02] Speaker B: Right? Right. [00:06:02] Speaker A: So I forget why I eventually, like, watched it. But here is the thing. A couple episodes in, it takes a couple episodes, I think. But I realized that this was a portrayal of Jesus like I'd never seen before. So, like, we see Jesus laugh and he gets snarky with people that try to trap him in conversation and teases the disciples, and then he cry and we just see this, like, range of emotion where he just seems so human, you know? And so that was why I needed to go to Chosen Kind and meet them. Because I was like, I know that Jonathan Rumi is not really Jesus. And I know that what I'm watching on TV are not like, the actual moments that I've read about in my Bible for my whole life. Right? [00:06:44] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:06:44] Speaker A: But when I watch it, I'm like, this is the Jesus that I've always wanted to be real. [00:06:49] Speaker B: Oh, okay. [00:06:50] Speaker A: This is a Jesus I've always wanted to be real. [00:06:52] Speaker B: Yeah, totally makes sense. You know, I was recently at an event and they were showing a Jesus movie, a particular Jesus movie that basically it was a Bible translation organization. They were showing the Bible, I guess, in video. Right. Form anyways, and they show us a clip of the movie or the seasons or the parts of the Bible. And it was about Jesus interacting with this woman who had a blood issue. And I'm sure the Chosen's done that. Well, I've seen the Chosen One, that episode and. Or parts of it. And then I saw this one and then they asked the table to talk about what they saw, you know? And, yeah, to your point, everybody didn't want to talk about, like, the. The spiritual lesson behind this idea of what happened. They were like, why is Jesus so mean? I'm like. And these were adults. These were, like, older people. And they were like, I was surprised how Jesus was so mean. And I'm like, huh, that's so interesting, because what you. What is portrayed in video of who Jesus is truly does matter. So. [00:08:04] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:08:05] Speaker B: So much. Yeah. [00:08:05] Speaker A: Well. And that's the thing. Like, it's hard for me to look around right now at certain depictions of Jesus, be it in media or the way that certain people are portraying, like, who he was or his teachings. And so when I watch the Chosen, it feels like, this sounds so silly, but it feels like God is gifting me this confirmation that, like, everything I've believed in for my entire life. And, like. Like, it makes me emotional that, like, everything within me is like, no, this is it. This is the person that I've devoted my whole entire life to. Like, he is good and kind and compassionate and funny and, like, yes, fully God, but also fully human. And so, yeah, I don't know. I just really get sucked up into it because, like I said, I know I'm not watching, like, biblical times. [00:08:53] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:08:54] Speaker A: But nothing has ever felt more true and honest as far as, like, what I have chosen to, you know. [00:09:01] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:09:02] Speaker A: Devote my whole life to, basically. [00:09:04] Speaker B: So. So let me. Has this show kind of changed your view on. I mean, it's confirmed your view on who? Jesus. You thought, like, this is the Jesus that would be, you know, like, I think. But has it changed your understanding of the Bible? [00:09:20] Speaker A: It has, actually. I think it's given me a bigger picture of the Bible. Right. Like, the way that they weave the stories together is so thoughtful. And in the next episode, in the compilation episode, you'll hear me ask Dallas Jenkins actually, like, about the intentionality and some of the choices that he made. But the difference for me in this show is, like, usually when we sit down to read scripture, it's, like, very linear. Right. Like, we read this story, and then this story and this story, and so in our brains, we go, okay, well, that's how it happens. Like, this thing happens, and then this thing happens, and then this thing happens. But the way they weave them together, it seems more realistic because in real life, things don't happen one at a time. [00:10:03] Speaker B: Right, right, right. [00:10:04] Speaker A: It's not like, oh, we do this one thing, and then when that's, like, tied up in a Bow. We move on to the next story and the next event. And so the way that they kind of layer things and then circle back to previous stories, I think shows us how things could have been perceived from somebody else's perspective. And so now when I read scripture, I read these stories, even if it's different stories, it's helping me with this holy imagination of, like, okay, well, who else was there and what else? What could it have meant to them? And it just makes the story seem a lot richer, you know? [00:10:35] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Totally makes sense. Wow. All right, so you get to chosen con, right? You. You show up. Okay. You've got. You got a little bit of emotions, or not really. You're feeling like you've got, like, what. What kind of. What emotion? What. What would you. Yeah. What's the words? Couple of words describe your emotional state. [00:10:56] Speaker A: Yeah. So leading up to it, I was quite anxious. [00:11:02] Speaker B: Okay. [00:11:03] Speaker A: You know this. I was. [00:11:04] Speaker B: Yes. [00:11:05] Speaker A: You're like, are you good? I was, like, hyper fixating on every single thing that I could control because I was honestly just nervous that these people that I loved and that means so much to me, like, would find me annoying or just kind of in the way, you know? So that was, like, the day before, but then when I got there, day of, it was very. I was very confident. I was very excited. I was like, let's have some fun. Let's go do the thing. And then I did actually get emotional. Oh, big surprise. I know, I know. Well, we. We were getting ready to do it, and I was like, okay, I need to record. I remembered, oh, yeah, I'm doing this for the podcast, right? [00:11:47] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:11:48] Speaker A: And so I took Quanisha with me. She was my, like, camera media girl. And I was like, hey, we have to record the intro. And I had to do it three times. Do you want to know why I had to do the why? And I'm talking the intro to this podcast, the part where I'm like, hey, welcome to becoming church. Da da da da da. And I said, do you know why I had to do it three times? [00:12:07] Speaker B: Why? [00:12:08] Speaker A: Because I kept crying. [00:12:10] Speaker B: Oh. I mean, I'm laughing, but I shouldn't be laughing. [00:12:15] Speaker A: But I mean, no, it's fine. I laughed at myself, but I got. So I just kept getting teared up because I was like, oh, I think that was the moment where I finally let myself go, like, this is happening. Like, this is actually happening. [00:12:27] Speaker B: Yeah. What's interesting, though, is, isn't it true, though? Because when you. You go through, like, levels of Confidence as you attempt to do something that's new, right? So when you start off, you're like, you know what I told. I finagled my way in to getting a media pass or a press pass or whatever, right? So, yeah, you came across confident. You came across like, hey, I need to be in the room. You need me, and all that, and we got to it. When you got there, you're like. This whole time, you're like, oh, my gosh. I don't know if I'm gonna actually pull this off for sure. [00:13:02] Speaker A: I had imposter syndrome creeping in like no other, because I think that was it. I think I knew I kind of finagled my way in here, and so maybe I don't belong here. And so that was in the back of my mind until it actually happened. And I was like, well, they can't kick me out now. [00:13:21] Speaker B: That's hilarious. Yeah. So, I mean, you were besides yourself. You were nervous, obviously, right? [00:13:26] Speaker A: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. But once I hit the carpet, I was not. Like, when they came in, I don't know. I just, like, it just. All the nerves were gone. I, like, had a blast at the best time. [00:13:38] Speaker B: Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome. Yeah. And it was great that you took Q. Q is on staff at Mosaic, and so for those of you who do not know. So she's awesome. And I think it's really great to, like, take some. It's really great to have some sense of community and as. To attempt even hard things, you know, like, having someone with you, not just emotionally, not just spiritually, but also physically, really does help when we attempt these things. So. Awesome. All right, so you're. You're there. You're doing the things. Okay, so let's talk about some moments. I mean, do you have a moment that you are. That you forgot that you were actually, I don't know, working? [00:14:20] Speaker A: Yeah, actually, the whole entire time, which, again, you will hear in the next episode. I didn't even realize until later, like, I didn't set anybody up. I didn't introduce anybody. Not in one single interview. I might have called them by their name. But, like, for people listening, I'm gonna have to, I don't know, put it in the show notes or something. [00:14:38] Speaker B: Did you call them by their character name? [00:14:41] Speaker A: Their real name. Their real name. Their real name. Now, sometimes I did reference their character name, you know, in the questions that I had prepared for them or whatever, but. But, yeah, I was so in it. Just, like, talking, making them laugh. Naem. You know, I loved that so much. Like, every time somebody laughed at something that I said, I was like, yes, I am in my element. This is so, so fun and so good. So totally, totally forgot to introduce people and set it up. But whatever, it is what it is. [00:15:12] Speaker B: Okay, so this event is like a couple of days long, right? It's. Or is the weekend. [00:15:16] Speaker A: It was like three days. [00:15:18] Speaker B: Yeah, it was three days. So you show up day one, day two, day two, and you're there the entire day. [00:15:26] Speaker A: We were there for just the afternoon. So we showed up. We had a check in in the morning. Yeah. Go to the media room, get all the things. We did our interviews for. I think maybe it was like four hours. And then we were done. [00:15:37] Speaker B: You're done. And then did you go back for dinners or did you go back for any other thing? [00:15:41] Speaker A: Yeah, we did, actually. We went back that night. There was a dinner just for, like, the media press people, which, again, and I were like, do we go to this? Do we not go to this? Like, what do we do? People are going to find us out when it's like Fox News and TV Guide and Caleb Radio, like, this is who was at the dinner. People like that. They're like, so what do you do? And I'm like, well, I'm. I'm a pastor with podcast called Becoming Church. You ever heard of that? [00:16:08] Speaker B: You could have. You guys could have been the K and Q show. [00:16:12] Speaker A: I know we kind of were, but yeah. [00:16:14] Speaker B: Okay, so you. You're there, and so you're having all these experiences. Were there. Let me ask you, were there any, like, I don't know, maybe not so cool moments? Like, were there any disappointing moments? Were there any moments you're like, you know. Yeah, okay. [00:16:32] Speaker A: There was one. And it was a super bummer. And I'm still having to remind myself, like, it's okay. It's okay. [00:16:41] Speaker B: Okay. All right. [00:16:42] Speaker A: Because it was meeting Jesus. [00:16:44] Speaker B: Oh, no. Meeting Jesus was disappointing. [00:16:47] Speaker A: Yes. So let me explain. Let me explain. Okay. [00:16:50] Speaker B: Wow. Okay. [00:16:51] Speaker A: The way it works is I had no idea what to expect. Right. I'd seen red carpets from, like, watching the Oscars and award shows and things like that. So I had a feeling that we would be, like, in a line. And so technically what it was like, there's the teal carpet. Cause that's the color of the show. [00:17:08] Speaker B: Okay. [00:17:09] Speaker A: But we were all so close together on this carpet that we kept getting in each other's shots. Like our microphones. I mean, it was, like, tight. [00:17:16] Speaker B: Like, who was we? Like all of the press, media, media. Oh, wow. [00:17:20] Speaker A: I Mean, we were so, like, close together. [00:17:24] Speaker B: Okay. She was. [00:17:24] Speaker A: And I was between two incredible people. Lori from K Love and Ezra speaking, who's like a 12 year old. And we just had the best time. [00:17:32] Speaker B: Oh, that's funny. [00:17:33] Speaker A: But what I expected was that they would bring people, like one at a time, like, down the row. Right? [00:17:40] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:17:40] Speaker A: That is not what happened. You had no idea who was coming or when. Because every actor had their own kind of like handler. There were these handlers on the carpet. So they would take somebody and then bring them over here, and then they would jump over, like you and three other people and go over here. And it was just like they. You didn't ever knew who was coming when. [00:17:59] Speaker B: Okay. [00:18:00] Speaker A: And then. And I am getting to my. To Jesus, but I have to paint the picture here. [00:18:04] Speaker B: Okay, okay. [00:18:05] Speaker A: So then somebody will finally come to you. And I swear I would have my first question out and then that handler would come up to you and tap you on the. On the elbow and be like. Be like, wrap it up. So we had. I had no idea was I gonna have 30 seconds with this person. What is. I can have three minutes with this person. [00:18:22] Speaker B: And you didn't even know who was going to come? [00:18:24] Speaker A: No, not until they walked up in front of me. So I had like all my notes on my phone. [00:18:29] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh. That's stressful. Yeah. [00:18:31] Speaker A: And I was. It was a little stressful. So I'm trying to, like, watch, right? And I would see somebody come and so I would like pull their notes up and then they. I think they were coming to me and they would go to the person next to me and I'm like, okay. I got. [00:18:40] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:18:41] Speaker A: So when Jonathan Remi walked in, when Jesus walks in, you could tell because there was a bunch of. We were behind, like some stanchions, you know, the whole media thing. But other people, if they had a certain level of ticket, could come into the room and like, watch. So as we're doing interviews, there's also all these people taking photos and just trying to catch a glimpse of the cast and all of that. So you can tell Jonathan gets there because the whole room, like, everybody starts cheering. And I did get a little tiny bit emotional again because I was like, oh, my gosh, Jesus is here. [00:19:12] Speaker B: I can't believe Jesus. [00:19:15] Speaker A: But I didn't cry. Cry like, okay, good. [00:19:17] Speaker B: Okay, okay. [00:19:18] Speaker A: So he comes to the person next to me and I'm in another interview and I'm in the back of my mind, I'm like, okay, I want to give this person the Time that they need. And also, I don't want to get skipped over, because when Jesus is ready, I'm not ready. [00:19:31] Speaker B: Oh, wow. Because he could skip you and Jesus. [00:19:35] Speaker A: And actually, that's what happened. I gave the person that I was talking to, the official. Like, I wanted to be honoring of them all, you know? [00:19:42] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. That's so good. [00:19:43] Speaker A: But then I watched Jesus go from my right shoulder to my left shoulder, and I went, no. So I go to the person behind me, and I was like, hey, I know everybody wants to talk to him, but. And like that we're also. The clock is, like, running down. It's like, everybody wants to talk to him. Is there a chance that he can come back to me? She was like, honestly, I don't know. You can wait if you want to. And I was like, I'm waiting. I'm not missing this, you know. [00:20:07] Speaker B: Okay, okay, okay. [00:20:08] Speaker A: So then all of a sudden, they shake everything up and go, if you want to talk to him, pick up your equipment. And I'm talking full cameras. Like, people have microphones, all this stuff, and everybody bunch up together at the end of the carpet. Why they didn't just keep him going down the line? I don't know. It threw everybody off. So now we're all huddled together off the carpet, out of the lighting, with no background. Very weird. And they bring him around, and they're like, one question. You get one question. And when they said that to me, I, like, blanked, because I had questions on my phone, but it was like a series of questions, right? [00:20:45] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:20:45] Speaker A: And of course, afterwards, I thought, oh, the perfect question would have been the question that I ask everybody on this podcast, which is, you know, what does it mean to, like, become the church to the people around you? [00:20:56] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:20:57] Speaker A: But I blanked. So instead, I asked him something a little bit lighter. [00:21:02] Speaker B: Okay, what'd you ask him? [00:21:03] Speaker A: I was like, everybody's going to be, you know, all serious, and so let me ask him. I'm going to help him out, you know? [00:21:08] Speaker B: Okay. [00:21:09] Speaker A: And it did not land. Jonathan. Hi, Kristen. So great to meet you. Listen, I know that you know that you're not Jesus, and you're just playing a role, right? [00:21:18] Speaker B: This is true. [00:21:19] Speaker A: Tell me something. I know you get a lot of deep questions. Tell me something that you do in your everyday life that reminds you, like, oh, yeah, I'm Jonathan, not Jesus. [00:21:29] Speaker B: Drink lattes. [00:21:31] Speaker A: Okay. What's. What's the order? [00:21:34] Speaker B: The order? [00:21:35] Speaker A: Your coffee. What's your latte order? [00:21:36] Speaker B: Oh, my latte order. It's an almond milk latte, usually about 12 ounces. [00:21:42] Speaker A: Okay. [00:21:43] Speaker B: Yeah. I love almond milk lattes. [00:21:45] Speaker A: Great. [00:21:46] Speaker B: Yeah, I love it. [00:21:47] Speaker A: That was not great. That was a little bit of a disappointing moment that he didn't even really get it. [00:21:52] Speaker B: Well, you know what? The good thing is? The real Jesus does not disappoint. Right? The real Jesus. I mean, not that he disappointed you. Not that Jonathan Roumie disappointed you. He's a good guy. But, you know, it's a lot emotions. It's hard. I can't believe you actually did it. I would. I don't know what I would say. Yeah, we all do this in moments where we're so stressed and we so want to come across as our best. Sometimes we come across as the goofiest. [00:22:20] Speaker A: And yeah, I just was like, I should have asked a different question. That was like a. A lead up, like, let me earn. That's the thing about getting to talk to people on the show, which is why I love it that I get to have an hour because then I kind of build trust and they understand where I'm going. But probably just as a random one off question, he was like, yeah, what? [00:22:38] Speaker B: So, okay, so. Okay, so you had that kind of moment. Let's talk about some other moments. You did, actually. So you threw out this idea, this idea that you are BFF with Elizabeth Tavish, who plays Mary Magdalene. Magdalene, correct. [00:22:56] Speaker A: Yep. Yes. [00:22:57] Speaker B: Mags. Sorry. [00:22:58] Speaker A: Mary Mags is what we call her on the show. [00:22:59] Speaker B: So let's talk about that moment a little bit. So was that moment disappointing because you. You knew her. I mean, sorry, you got to know her. [00:23:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:08] Speaker B: You've. You texted with her, interviewed her on the podcast. [00:23:12] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:13] Speaker B: Exchange, you know, correspondence, all that jazz, but you never been in the same room with her. How was that moment? [00:23:20] Speaker A: Right. That was fantastic. So I did actually go back the next day. Liz opted out of AllPress. She was not doing any interviews. Anything else? [00:23:29] Speaker B: Oh, so you didn't get to interview her? [00:23:32] Speaker A: No. Oh, and she had told me in advance she was helping me. Like, she had talked to Dallas Jenkins wife, Amanda. Like, she was also working on the inside to get me as a interviewer, to get me a press pass because she genuinely, like, loved being on the show. So we were trying to connect. They had her so busy doing, you know, all kinds of things. And so by the time I was done that day, she was done for that day. And I was like, oh, my gosh, like, I missed it. I'm not gonna get to see her. So I went back the next day, and, yeah, I went basically Long story short, I got to go hang out, like, in the cast room with her and her husband for, like, 30 minutes. And so instead of resting or whatever, she had a break. And I didn't think I was gonna get in because we were texting. We're texting, and she's like, come here. Come whatever. Cause I had the press pass, and then this one guy wasn't gonna let me in, and then this other guy was like, wait, I literally just saw her texting you. Like, hang on, let me help you out. And so, yeah, we got to just, like, hang out. And I didn't know that. Also, I was super nervous. Like, I was shaking because I love her so much. [00:24:38] Speaker B: You didn't want me in. [00:24:39] Speaker A: And again, I was like, I think we're friends, but what if she's just being nice? What if she's like, this everybody, you know? But we saw each other, and it was just this moment of, like. Like, she jumped up, and we both, like, almost, like, ran at each other and, like, hugged each later. I only had 30 minutes to talk to her, but at one point, she went to the bathroom, and her husband was there, and I just was like, thank you so much for, like, you know, making time. I know that she's probably got all these fans that want to see her and whatever, and, like, it just means so much that please make sure she knows, like, how much this means to me. And he said. He was like, no, she genuinely loves you. He was like, she genuinely. [00:25:19] Speaker B: That's awesome. [00:25:19] Speaker A: Your interview's the favorite. You're, like, the favorite one she's ever done, and. And the way that you. I think that she's been in some interviews where, like, I don't know if you've probably never experienced this, but females tend to be not always super kind or welcoming to other females. [00:25:38] Speaker B: No. [00:25:39] Speaker A: And so she and I think just kind of bonded over that, and we just, like, have a legitimate friendship, and it is. [00:25:46] Speaker B: Oh, that's great that I get to say that. [00:25:49] Speaker A: But, yeah. Yeah. So I got to see her that day, and we took pictures, and it was like. [00:25:53] Speaker B: That was great. All right, so did that happen before or after the whole Jesus encounter? [00:25:58] Speaker A: That was the next day. That was the next. [00:26:00] Speaker B: Oh, so that's great. [00:26:01] Speaker A: So you ended up on a high. [00:26:03] Speaker B: You ended on a high. That's awesome. All right. Anything else? Like, any other moment that caught you off guard? Like, you were like, oh, I was not expecting that or the whole experience that. [00:26:14] Speaker A: No, I was. I really felt like I was owning it, like, my moment and My responsibility until. So this happened two times back to back. So I'm interviewing people, and again, the back of my mind is still like, I am nobody. Like, I don't belong here, right between these big name media people. [00:26:34] Speaker B: So. [00:26:34] Speaker A: But I'm having a blast. I'm confident. Like, it's fun. So Abe, who plays big James, comes up, and I was like, hey, Kristen. And he goes, yeah, I know you. And I was like, you know me. I was like, no, like, sure. You know, thinking he was thinking of somebody else. He's like, yeah, from Instagram, Naim. I, like, forgot where I was. I, like, totally forgot that I was supposed to be asking questions. I was caught so off guard. I just stood there in shock, literal shock. And I was like, what? He actually saved the interview because he goes, and you know me, right? From Amazon. And I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, right, right. And so I, you know, get into the interview and, like, do the. Well, that's where the chosen. You can watch on Amazon Prime. [00:27:21] Speaker B: Oh, okay. [00:27:22] Speaker A: Amazon picked it up. [00:27:23] Speaker B: Oh, okay. [00:27:24] Speaker A: So they have their own platform, but you can also watch it. [00:27:27] Speaker B: I thought there was an Amazon, you know, a big James doll on Amazon that was for sale. Maybe. I don't know. I don't know. [00:27:34] Speaker A: There might be. [00:27:36] Speaker B: There might be one. Okay, okay. Okay, nice. [00:27:38] Speaker A: So, yeah, I finished. I finished asking him the questions, you know, and he was like, great. Like, like, said, hi, bye, whatever. Like, it was nothing. And then Paris Patel comes up. Paris. Paris Patel comes up. Who plays Matthew? Yeah, the same thing happened. I introduced myself and I was like, hey, I'm Kristen. And he goes, oh, yeah, of course. And I was like, what is happening right now? So I do the interview with him and say, like, thanks, bye, whatever. And he's like, oh, yeah, yeah, Like, I'll see you around. I'm sure I'll see you around. As if. [00:28:10] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:28:12] Speaker A: I don't know. And so that. That caught me off guard so much. And so then I was talking to Q, you know, she was my, like, camera woman. And I just was like, what is, like, what? They don't know? They're confused, right? Like, surely not. And she was like, no, legitimately, they know you from whatever, you know, from Liz or from the podcast or just sermon clips and whatnot. And within 24 hours of these interviews I had. I forget if it's five or six of the disciples now actually follow me on Instagram. [00:28:42] Speaker B: Wow, they're following Jesus and you now you have your own disciples. [00:28:47] Speaker A: That's exactly right. They follow Jesus and Me. [00:28:50] Speaker B: It was so wild, so funny. Funny. That's awesome. All right, so any. I know we talked about the disappointing moments. Any other kind of moments, like, any awkward moments, or was that the GS one was awkward enough or what? [00:29:03] Speaker A: It would have been awkward. [00:29:03] Speaker B: It was more. [00:29:04] Speaker A: Okay, so that one was awkward. And I don't feel like I got to resolve it, but I have another awkward, awkward moment that did. It's paying off, so I'll tell you. [00:29:12] Speaker B: Okay. Okay, talk to me. [00:29:13] Speaker A: So before it started, you know, we were backed in this, like, closed off section, right? You had to have credentials to get in. And I didn't think anything of it minus that room. But also it meant that we had access to the bathroom that was, like, where the cast was. And I did not know this until. See, the reason I took Quinisha is because I knew. Not even because she loved the Chosen, but because I know that she knows how important it is to be on camera. And as we were, like, doing all the checks and stuff, she was like. I said, I'm gonna go fix my lipstick in the bathroom. She was like, you might want to put on another coat of mascara. I was like, okay, great. Thank you for telling me that. So we take my makeup bag, we go to the bathroom, and it's one of those bathrooms where there's, like, sinks and mirrors here and sinks and mirrors here, you know? [00:29:56] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah, yeah. [00:29:58] Speaker A: So I'm in the mirror and I'm like, doing my makeup, and I look behind me, and it's Yasmin, who plays Rayma on the show, who is a beloved, like, written in character. Like, there's not necessarily a rhema in scripture, but she becomes very important in, like, the Chosen, you know, and she's also not doing any press. She's not on any of the interviews and whatever. And so I see her behind me and I'm like, what do I do? Do I talk to her? Do I not talk to her? Do I say something? She's one of the most gorgeous people I've ever seen in my entire life. And so I was just like, okay, I don't know what to do. So I wash my hands, like, extra time to, like, stall and figure out if I'm gonna say anything to her or not. [00:30:40] Speaker B: That's so funny. [00:30:41] Speaker A: And then as she starts to walk out, I, like, turn around and I just go, hey. I was like, is it more awkward to talk to you in the bathroom or to pretend that I don't know that it's you and to not talk to you in the Bathroom. And as the words are coming out of my mouth, I was like, why do I do these things? Like, what is wrong with me? And so she laughed, and she was very kind, and she was like, no, nothing's awkward. Like, it's totally fine. You know, whatever. And so she asked you, and I like how it was going and whatever. She was like, have fun at the conference. Well, back to my original how I even got here to begin with. I was like, okay, I'm going to fix this. So I messaged her on Instagram, and I was like, hey, thank you for being so kind and gracious. Like, I love you on the show. I hope you had a great time, whatever. I don't remember exactly what I said. She responded back, started following me. We kind of went back and forth. And now I'm going to be interviewing her on the podcast coming up. [00:31:38] Speaker B: Yeah, it's awesome. That's awesome. [00:31:41] Speaker A: Now she calls me her bathroom buddy. I was like, if you need to vet me or, like, make sure the show's not weird, you know, you can talk to Liz. And she was like, talk to Liz. [00:31:48] Speaker B: Do not talk to Jesus. Do not talk to Jesus. [00:31:51] Speaker A: Don't ask Jesus at all. Actually. She was like, girl, I better do in the bathroom. Like, vibes are good. Like, let's do it. [00:31:57] Speaker B: That's so funny. That's awesome. That's awesome. What a great experience. And I'm so glad you're doing this, because I think people need to know a little bit about you. And, you know, just there's. You know, there's always a sense of, like, people look at people and they go, okay, she's a podcaster, or he's a podcaster, and he does this and all that. They don't get to look behind the scenes of what actually is going on in people's minds, emotions, and how God actually just does set up some things. I mean, it was a blessing for you to be there. Blessing for you to. So you made it happen. As in, like, you did your work and then God opened the doors. Right? [00:32:35] Speaker A: So, totally, totally. Yeah. [00:32:37] Speaker B: What a great lesson in that, you know, for everyone to know that, yeah, we just do our part and let God do the things for us. And so what a great experience. So let me ask you, for your listeners or for people who are watching the Chosen. Right. [00:32:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:52] Speaker B: You think it helps them see Jesus more clearly? Yeah. Talk to me about that. How. How do you think that they can take their faith to the next level? You know, in one sense, in terms of who they're becoming with watching a show like Chosen. [00:33:13] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, I think kind of, like I mentioned earlier, it's just the idea of leaning into, like, holy imagination. Right. Like, that's what the show kind of taught me is that there's so much more to these stories than just the words on the page. Like, these were real people with real emotions and opinions. And while we aren't the main characters in the story. Right. I think there's actually a lot of damage that can be done when we think that we're the main characters, like in the story and in Scripture, when we can put ourselves in the story and kind of like, figuratively look around. I do think that God reveals things to us that we'd never seen before. And so we can start learning to ask questions that we've never thought to ask and consider perspectives that have. We've, you know, we've never considered. And so that all gives us that broader picture of who Jesus was to those people and then who Jesus can still be for us today. [00:34:06] Speaker B: Yeah. So how can this, I mean, how can they take their. I get their guests, their relationship with God to the next level? [00:34:14] Speaker A: Yeah. With this, I think I would say specifically for the people that are listening that maybe don't go to church anymore. I have so many listeners that are. They're like, becoming church is my church. Like, I'm not sure what to do with Christianity. I don't have a church right now that feels like the right fit for me. And so these conversations are my weekly, like, you know, tap in. So I think I would just want people to know, like, it doesn't matter who Jesus has been told, like, what explanation you've been given of Jesus, that, like, you don't have to just blindly believe what someone else has said about him, but you get to experience God through Jesus yourself by noticing and wondering and asking questions and reading and, like, getting in scripture on your own and learning for yourself. You know, like, blindly believing somebody else's opinion isn't going to actually help you to understand more of who Jesus is. Like, it's great to watch him on the screen, but I don't think we can actually fully know who he is or who we are in him until we're able to peel off a lot of things, peel off what we've been told by other people, you know, and then start asking questions and digging in ourselves. And I also don't think that we can really fully know in completion who we are or like, who we're becoming until we know who God is and what God sees when he looks at us. Right? [00:35:38] Speaker B: Like, yeah. [00:35:39] Speaker A: And it can start as simply as asking God to show up for you in a more real and personal way and then starting to trust what you see or hear or feel when God answers that prayer. [00:35:50] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, no, that's great. That's great. Now, in terms of like your podcast, the podcast Becoming church, this idea of church, you know, some people have a hard time finding a church, some people have a hard time sticking to a church. And I know you and I have had conversations about that because, you know, being a follower of Jesus, being a Christian is one thing, but becoming church is a whole different ball game in terms of committing to a body of people. And we've talked about this idea where, you know, 30% of, you know, of the things about any church, you're not going to like. Yeah, right. In fact, you're not going to like 30% of you, right. 30% of any experience. You know, you can think about it, your job, your whatever. I mean, what I'm saying is there's a, there's stuff that you're just not going to like about people, your job, life where you live, and also church. And so it's not, it's really sad when people leave just because they don't like 30% of a church. Right? [00:37:02] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:37:03] Speaker B: They don't like 30% of you just gotta commit to a church and to a community of people. Even though there might be, you know, a few things you're like, I don't know about this. Right. Talk to me about that. [00:37:17] Speaker A: Yeah, I do think that we have to pick our 30%. Right. Like there are 30% of things that I think everybody has their own non negotiables. Let me start with that. Okay. So for some people it's like, okay, if it's really important to you that there is a female in leadership, then you need to go to a. Like, that's not in your 30%. That's not a thing that you're going to be like, okay, well, I can overlook this. If you know that's important to you, then that's actually your 70% and people need to know that, you know. So I think that's the first thing is understanding, like, what do I care about the most? And then what can I let be a 30% and be okay with it? [00:37:56] Speaker B: Okay. [00:37:56] Speaker A: And then that's what it is. Right? Like if you really go for the message and you're like wish washy on worship to begin with and then the worship is not that great, well then you have to understand, like, okay, well, you let worship off. You let the team off the hook, because that's not something that's super important to you anyway. And, yeah, just committing and going, all right, maybe God is actually putting this 30%. Maybe the people that make me uncomfortable, maybe the things that I don't love or the things that I wish were different, God could be intentionally having that, you know, in you in those situations to grow you. Like, I really think that a lot of church right now is very consumer mindset. And it's like, well, if it's not built for me and it's not what I like to my personal preferences, then either they need to change and accommodate that for me, or I need to go find a church that checks all the boxes. And I'm so sorry to tell you, it doesn't exist. Right. Like, back to your 30%. There's always going to be things that you wish you could change. And what's crazy to me about this is that we really only do it with church. Like, people will go to a restaurant. Think about this. If somebody goes to a restaurant that they like, right? They've been going to this restaurant for forever. They've loved the food. If they have one bad meal, they're not like, I'm never going out to eat again. Do you know what I'm saying? [00:39:14] Speaker B: Right. Right. Yeah, yeah. [00:39:15] Speaker A: They probably will go back. If they, like, work with a company and they, you know, Amazon or whatever, if the order is delayed or they get the wrong thing, they don't go, okay, well, I'm never ordering from this company again. There's Grace there. And it's like, okay, well, I think we need to have a little bit more of that. When it comes to the church, obviously, we're not talking about dehumanization from the pulpit. We're not talking about, you know, really extreme things, but things that are not damaging and harmful. Like, yeah, you're gonna have to. [00:39:46] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:39:47] Speaker A: Live with it a little bit and let God prune some of your. The pride of your own personal preferences away. [00:39:53] Speaker B: Yeah, so true, so true, so true. Well, hey, this has been a great experience. I don't know. And I would like my job back. You know, I'm saying I would. I would. Yeah. I mean, if, you know, if I can weasel my way back in hosting this podcast I'm just throwing out there, you just, you know, pray about it. [00:40:13] Speaker A: Here's what we'll do. [00:40:14] Speaker B: Ask Jesus about it, the real Jesus. [00:40:16] Speaker A: We'll put it to a vote. [00:40:17] Speaker B: Okay. Oh, wow. [00:40:18] Speaker A: We'll just let the listeners decide. [00:40:21] Speaker B: I'll never know, though, if it's gonna happen. So, yeah, put it to the vote. We'll let the listener decide. So random people can vote several times, right? [00:40:29] Speaker A: Yes. Are you gonna. [00:40:30] Speaker B: How many times? I'm gonna keep voting. [00:40:32] Speaker A: You can't swing the vote. [00:40:34] Speaker B: I can't swing it. All right, fine. Well, hey, thank you so much for what you do. Thank you for this podcast. I know it is saving people's sanity and it is saving people's hope because I believe that there are people who are listening to this and they are losing their faith in Jesus, Christianity, the church. And you give them so much hope. So continue to do what you do. And, yeah, proud of you. [00:41:03] Speaker A: Thank you. Thank you. You can come back anytime. [00:41:06] Speaker B: All right, you heard it, people. You heard it. She said it. [00:41:15] Speaker A: Okay, so if you were going to ask Jesus one question, what would it be? Give me your best options on the Instagram post for this episode because when I meet Jonathan Remi again, I need a redo. And if you. If you haven't watched the Chosen, I really do encourage you to give it a try. The character development and the deeper understanding of scripture and the hope that we all need so much right now is worth the emotional whiplash that you will also experience when you watch it. Especially if you've walked away from Christianity or the church and you've got complicated feelings about Jesus right now. I truly believe this will restore your faith in a God who is so good. One last bonus. For the first time ever on this podcast, I am also thrilled to let you know about another resource that is now available for anyone who has deconstructed, feels disenchanted with religion or otherwise, feels lost in a faith that doesn't quite fit. If you still want to hold on to Jesus, I would love for you to pre order my first book, the Other side of Following Jesus When Easy Answers no Longer Work. I've got it linked up in the show notes for you very easily or it's available wherever you like to get your books. I would love for you to get one and read it and maybe even get one to give to someone who needs help reclaiming their faith. Until next time, thanks for listening and keep becoming the church to the people around you.